Murders in Colombia’s capital Bogota in August were the lowest in 27 years – a drop “unparralleled in the world,” according to mayor Gustavo Petro on Monday.
Bogota mayor Gustavo Petro revealed that according to statistics the number of murders in the city dropped by 44% in August this year compared with the same month in 2011.
“While in August 2011 there were 143 homicides registered, this was cut to 80 cases by the 31st of August this year,” said the mayor according to Radio Caracol.
Petro attributed the reduction in the number of homicides in the city to the restriction on carrying guns in public places in the city.
“The disarmament of citizens and greater police efficiency are the key factors in the 58% drop of firearm homicides in Bogota,” said the mayor on his Twitter account.
“During August 2011 the authorities reported 100 deaths due to firearms while in the same month this year only 42 have been reported,” said Petro.
Throughout the whole year there has been a 21% reduction in the number of homicides in the country’s capital.
“In the first eight months of 2011 there were 1028 murders in the city. In the same period this year there have been 817, meaning 211 lives hve been saved,” said Petro.
According to data from the Bogota Metropolitan Police the authorities have captured 840 firearms of which 305 were seized under the Disarmament Decree so far this year.
On his Twitter account Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos congratulated the authorities in Bogota on their “good work” in reducing the number of violent deaths in the city.